“I don’t think I am.” He shrugged. “I have needs, Tierney. Having sex with you is like jerking off. You just lie there. You don’t do anything.”
Disgust soured my gut. “I’m sorry grief has gotten in the way of my libido.”
“Your parents died nearly a year ago!” He threw his hands up in exasperation. “And it still feels like I’m living with a fucking ghost! Excuse me if I need a little attention from someone who enjoys having sex with me.”
The last of my numbness melted away as I stared in horror at this man I was sharing a life with. But I wasn’t, was I? Because he was right. He was the best lover I’d had—which wasn’t saying a lot—but after my parents died, I completely lost interest in Hugh. In every way. We were just two people sharing an apartment. I’d thought him patient. That I’d gotten him wrong before their deaths. That he was kind and understanding.
Like fuck he was!
He was screwing around behind my back. “The right thing to do is break up with a person. Not fuck around with other women. Jesus! I need to get a sexual health check, you absolute selfish prick!”
Hugh’s jaw dropped. Then he took a step toward me. “Do you realize that is the most impassioned thing you’ve said to me in a year?”
Seriously? “You’re an asshole.”
I shoved past him, striding into the large bedroom and into the walk-in closet. Finding my suitcases, I rolled them out into the room.
“What are you doing?” Hugh grabbed my wrist as I reached up to begin pulling clothes down to pack them.
I shrugged him off. “I’m leaving.”
“No.” He bent his face to mine and now it was my turn to gape at the aggression in his features. “I haven’t put up with your shit for a year for you to walk away now.”
I curled my lip in revulsion. “If you need people to believe you ended it, tell them that. I don’t give a damn.”
He grabbed my biceps, yanking me toward him, his grip bruising as I tried to squirm out of his hold. “I put up with your shit because I love you,” Hugh hissed. “You don’t walk away now that you’re finally herelookingat me. If I’d known screwing around with Caro would elicit this reaction, I’d have told you sooner!”
“You didn’t tell me—you got caught.” I shoved at him. “Let go of me!”
“I’ve been waiting for this.” His eyes heated as he jerked me against him, and I shuddered at the feel of his arousal. “I’ve missed this. I’ve missed you.”
He’d barely finished the sentence when my knee connected with his hard-on.
Agony blazed across his face as his lips parted on a silent yell.
“I’ll get my stuff later.” I skirted past him, shaking. “But we’re over, Hugh.Over.” I rushed into the living area and out to the elevator. I hit the button frantically.
It seemed to take forever for the doors to open and as I got on, Hugh burst out of the apartment, still clutching himself between the legs. “Tierney, don’t you dare leave.”
I already had my cell out. “Come near me and I will call the police.”
He straightened, rage blazing in his eyes. “This isn’t over, sweetheart.”
“It’s over if I say it’s over.” I bristled with my fury. “Don’t mess with me, Hugh. I’m on the edge and I might do something really crazy in self-defense. Don’t push me.”
He blanched at the innuendo in my threat before the doors closed and the elevator descended.
Trembling with anger and fear, I slumped against the car wall and tried to pull myself together before the doors opened again.
The concern on Harvey’s face told me he knew. He’d have seen Hugh go up to the apartment with Caro. Seen Caro leave.
Yet whatever he read on my face as I stepped out, he asked quietly, “Ms. Silver, are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” I waved a shaky hand. “Thank you, Mr. Collins. I won’t be back, so this is goodbye.”
He opened the exit, holding the door for me. “It’s been a pleasure, Ms. Silver. Good luck to you.”
I gave him a wan smile. “Thank you. You too.”
